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| Dark Lounge Room Makeover |
| It's hard to know what to do with a room that's dark and gloomy even during the day. You'll be amazed at the dramatic transformation of this unusually dark lounge room. |
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With new paint for the dark timber and some other changes, the room was given a whole new look. Design consultant Nerida Nicholas thought that the most obvious place to start with this long, narrow room would be to put in a skylight and remove the timber blinds from the windows.
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The brick wall, which tends to absorb light, needed to be covered with plasterboard and painted in light, more reflective colours. Bright Skylight and Roof Windows installed the roof window, a skylight that can be opened and closed either manually or electrically. This window also incorporates a flyscreen and sound-resistant glass. This was a big consideration for the owners, who live directly under a flight path!
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The house is more than a century old. When installing the roof window, the contractors discovered a failing roof, guttering and downpipes. Fortunately, the boys from Bright also replace roofs, so they were able to fix this problem for the owners.
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It was then time to start plasterboarding the brick wall. The wall was found to be uneven, so adjustable fasteners with metal batons were applied as a backing for the board, ensuring a smooth and level wall.
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Behind the old bureau, the skirting and plaster turned out to be soaked and rotten, so it needed treatment before replastering could be done. The water had come through from the bathroom, located on the opposite side of the wall. The surface of the wall was cleaned and prepared and Sealcoat, a waterproof membrane, was applied.
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Once the membrane was dry, the new plaster was applied to the wall, which was then painted.
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The owners had an old combustion fireplace that was in need of a new look. Nerida suggested a few painless improvements. All you need is a can of heat-resistant paint, oven cleaners and a few feature tiles. The paint can be found in most wood fire outlets and comes in several colours and gloss types. The owners chose charcoal in a matt finish. The glass on the fireplace hadn't been cleaned in years so was pretty dirty. Even the toughest of grime can be cleaned with a cloth dipped in hot water and fire ash. If this doesn't work, oven cleaner should.
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Next, some feature tiles from Country Floors were laid around the base of the fireplace, giving it a brighter feel. With all the other work being done, the owners decided it was time to replace their old sofas. They found a manufacturer's outlet in Sydney that sells wholesale to the public.
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All the basic lounge shapes are available there, but you can also choose to mix and match different shapes and features to create your own unique couch. This is a very affordable way to go and allows you to spend more on quality fabrics.
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A new, lighter colour scheme really opened up the room. Dulux Bastille Blue half-strength went on the walls and an off-white semi-gloss was used for the timber trim, the ceiling and the old suspended bookshelf. The new TV/stereo unit was custom-built and given a coat of varnish to cover a light limewash underneath. Some simple cotton roman blinds were added to the windows, the new sofas were set up and the once dark lounge room was finally light and bright!
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More Info
Nerida Nicholas is a freelance design consultant and can be contacted on 015 893 394.
Skylight/roof repairs by Bright Colourbond Skylights and Roof Windows, 29 Lawson Street, Sans Souci, NSW, 2219, ph: (02) 9529 7107, fax: (02) 9529 3119.
Sofas from Chaircraft Furniture, 23A Rochester Street, Botany, NSW 2019, ph: (02) 9666 4581, fax: (02) 9666 5779.
Ramset two-part Sealcoat product is available from Ramset outlets and leading hardware outlets. Or phone Ramset directly on (02) 9748 4488.
All paint supplied by Dulux. For further information call Dulux Customer Service on 13 25 25. Dulux Bastille Blue (half-strength) for the walls, Dulux Off White for the ceiling.
Painter: John Michael Decorators, ph: (02) 9960 4996
Stove Bright spray-on paint for fireplace available through Stove Bright Paints, 22/7 Salisbury Road, Castle Hill, NSW 2154, ph: (02) 9634 8966.
Feature Tiles from Country Floors, ph: (02) 9326 2444.
Blinds from the Cotton Blind Company, ph: (02) 9519 4687.
TV/stereo unit custom-built by Andrew Postle, ph: (02) 9808 3618. Limewashed with Porters Paper.
Props courtesy of Whitecliff Rugs, D&D Depot and Ruby Starr Traders (all located in Glebe, NSW).
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Disclaimer
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